Violence no solution to university challenges

The recent violent protests at universities across SA have exposed the deep cracks in SA’s higher education system

In the last few days we have seen the University of Fort Hare and the University of the Free State shut down as protests spiralled out of control, with students arrested and buildings gutted by fire. 

At Fort Hare, unrest swept through its Dikeni and East London campuses last week, leaving buildings damaged and students displaced.

The unrest followed weeks of student protests over safety, governance and housing conditions. 

Thankfully, no lives were lost. But preliminary reports estimate damage at between R250m and R500m.

Student leaders claimed the unrest had been “hijacked” by “outside forces or individuals with ulterior motives” seeking to “sabotage legitimate student struggles and destabilise our institution”.

Across the provincial border, classes at the University of the Free State came to a halt as students protested against its decision to discontinue provisional registration from 2026, a move student leaders say will exclude poor and working-class students from higher education.

The SRC described the decision as “anti-poor and anti-black,” saying it had been made without proper consultation.

“This type of undermining and infantilising of students is not only unjust and unethical, it is unprocedural.

“It ignores the important role we play in the functioning of the university.”

Several students were arrested for public violence on Wednesday and are expected to appear in the Bloemfontein magistrate’s court soon.

Amid the chaos, the students’ grievances are not without legitimacy.

But resorting to the kind of violence we have seen is simply not acceptable. And it is not the solution.

Not now. Not ever.

Instead, it only creates more problems.

When protests turn violent, everyone loses — especially the very students fighting for change.

From burnt administrative buildings and libraries to halted academic programmes, both students and institutions carry the burden of these protests.

Let our universities become synonymous with excellence — not violence. 

And let meaningful and productive dialogue replace the violent protests. 

The Herald